138 DAYS AND NIGHTS OF SALMON FISHING. 



I knew to be the act of the Salmo Solar ; and as my 

 line was short, I was, as I before recommended to others, 

 in no hurry to strike ; but fix him I did in due season. 

 He no sooner felt the hook than he began to rebel ; 

 and executed some very heavy runs, which so discon- 

 certed the machinery of my multiplier as almost to 

 dislocate the wheels. The line gave out with starts 

 and hitches, so that I was obliged to assist it with my 

 hands. To wind up it resolutely refused ; so that I was 

 compelled to gather in the line in large festoons when 

 it was necessary to shorten it, and again to give these 

 out as best I could when the fish made a run. Add 

 to this embarrassment that the ground was distressing, 

 there being alder bushes in my rear, which made it 

 impossible for me to retreat and advance by land, by 

 which means I could have humoured the fancies of 

 the fish, so as to obviate in some degree the necessity 

 of giving out and shortening the line. So I had no 

 power whatever over the salmon, which was evidently 

 a very large one. 



In the course of an hour I made no impression upon 

 him at all, my whole aim being to avoid a break. I 

 never engaged with a more subtle animal. Sometimes 

 he would make the tour of all the neighbouring stones, 

 where he endeavoured, no doubt, to rub the hook out 

 of his mouth ; then he would take a long rest, as if he 

 cared nothing about it. From the cause I have men- 

 tioned my tackle was always in disorder, which kept 

 me in great apprehension. Thus the matter went on 

 for nearly two hours more, still with a very dubious 

 result. At length a stone being thrown in by my 



